Baldassare Franceschini, called Il Volterrano

Sale, London, Sotheby's, Drawings by Baldassare Franceschini, 3 July 1980, lot 57 (catalogue by Charles McCorquodale);
with Thomas Le Claire, Hamburg; 
Alfred Normand (L.153c),
by whom sold, London, Christie's, 6 July 1999, lot 121

C. McCorquodale, 'Some unpublished works by Baldassare Franceschini, il Volterrano', in Paradigma, 5, 1983, p. 70, fig. 68;
M.C. Fabbri in Il seicento fiorentino, exhib. cat., Florence, Palazzo Strozzi, 1987, p. 414, under 1.230;
V. Birke and J. Kertész, Die Italienischen Zeichnungen der Albertina, Vienna 1997, vol. IV, p. 2288, under inv. no. 23924

Unframed. The paper has some tiny scattered brown stains along the right of the upper margin and also some small light brown spot stains in the lower left quarter, possibly from the artist's studio. On the verso are three old mount hinges and some small brown spot stains near the upper margin. The paper is less brown and slightly bluer than in the catalogue illustration and the black chalk stronger. Overall in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

These studies, like the previous lot, are related to Volterrano's painting of the Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine, now in the collection of the Cassa di Risparmio e Depositi, Prato (fig. 1).  The studies on the verso, for the arms of the Virgin and the hilt of St. Catherine's sword, relate closely to the painting.  For a discussion of the commission, see the previous lot. 

The drawing was in the collection of the distinguished French connoisseur, Alfred Normand.  A biographical sketch and appreciation of him was included in the 1999 Christie's sale catalogue.